ARJUN vs ZAHEER

[Kuchnahi24]

Upadte 24


Ammu or Asad ki upar jate dekh kar taz jo pehle se chill mode me tha,
ab sidha arjun ke kaan ke paas jhukta hai aur cheeky tone me kehta hai:
taz (teasing):
"dekh... teri maa hi teri dushman nikli bhai.
goli bhi chhati pe maar rahi hai aur keh rahi hai ‘beta relax kar’."

arjun ka expression ek dum tight ho jaata hai wo aankhon me shock + disbelief + thoda gussa mix expression leke madhu ko dekhta hai,
lekin kuch bolta nahi.

andar hi andar bas sochta hai:
arjun (internal monologue):
“yeh kya kar rahi ho mummy… tum toh samajho mujhe.

uska haath sherbet ka glass tightly pakadta hai.uski aankhon me wo silent plead dikhai deti hai lekin madhu ignore mode on.

madhu ammu ka dupatta theek karti hai, ek light push deti hai.asad polite smile ke saath pehle upar chadh jaata hai.ammu thoda rukti hai ek pal ke liye aankhon me uljhan.fir seedhi ho kar chhat ki taraf badh jaati hai.sab log casual banne ki acting karte hain neeche lekin sabke kaan udhar hi lage hote hain.camera ek baar arjun ke face pe close-up leta hai jahan aankhon ka colour thoda intense ho gaya hai.
chehre pe calm, lekin andar se storm ready.

husna, madhu, pratap, azhar… sab casually hansi-mazaak kar rahe hote hain.
corner me arjun aur taz sofa ke ek side bethe hote hain, dono ke haath me chai.
taz idhar-udhar dekhta hai ki koi sun toh nahi raha…
phir thoda lean hokar arjun ke kaan ke paas dheere se bolta hai:
taz (whispering, mischievous):
“sun... tujhe jaanna hai na upar kya chal raha hai?”
ek chhat hai — mere dost imtiyaz ki… zaheer ke ghar ke bilkul saamne wali.
aur voh khud kaafi open-minded hai.. matlab uski chhat bhi.

arjun kuch nahi bolta ek second ke liye bas taz ko dekhta hai,
fir aankhon me ‘okay tu pagal hai, lekin chal’ wali vibe la ke head nod karta hai.

cut to: pados wali chhat – 11:43 AM
dono chhat par aa jaate hain, ek choti si diwar jahan se azhar ke ghar ki chhat clearly dikh rahi hoti hai.
dono neeche baith jaate hain, chhat ki thand aur seelan wali hawa.
samanne ammu aur asad bench pe baith ke baat kar rahe hote hain.
asad ke words sune jaa sakte hain:

asad (soft tone):
main toh bas itna jaanna chahta hoon…
ki aapko rishton mein sabse zyada kya chahiye hota hai?

arjun & taz – wall ke peeche
taz (sarcastic tone):
haan, aur niche footnote bhi likhwa le — ‘terms & conditions apply’.

arjun (under his breath, dryly):
isko lagta hai yeh shaadi nahi, UPSC interview de raha hai.

asad (wahi se sunai deta hai):
aapko kaun si cheezein trigger karti hain?
main samajhna chahta hoon… so I don’t repeat them.

taz (ammu ki nakal karte huye)
Tere jaise lallu laal 

arjun (irritated):
yeh ammu ka rishta lene aaya hai ya uska trauma healer ban ke

asad fir poochhta hai (door se sunai deta hai)
kya aap kabhi kisi se emotionally attached rahi hain?

arjun ka face tighten ho jaata hai.
uski aankhen full focused ho jaati hain ammu pe.
dil me kuch chubhta hai, lekin tone still sarcastic:
arjun:
puchh lo bhai,
aage bol aapne kabhi kisi se aankh milayi thi jo terrace se chala gaya tha?

taz (mock drama mode):
aur jab usne back dikhayi thi, to kya thoda dil bhi gir gaya tha?

(pause)
fir dono ek dusre ko dekh ke thoda hanste hain lekin arjun ki hansi me thoda dard mix hota hai,aur taz uska face dekh ke ek second ke liye serious ho jaata hai.

asad:
kabhi kisi ne aapka dil toda ho…
toh kya uske baad aap dobara kisi par bharosa kar paayi hain?

cut to: taz & arjun – deewar ke peeche
taz (dramatic sigh ke saath):
arre bhai... pehle toh dil ki MRI kara le…yeh banda love story nahi, heartbreak ka case study bana raha hai

arjun (bitter smile):
main hota na… toh bolta —‘nahi bhaiya, ab toh main sirf delivery boy pe bharosa karti hoon…

asad ka next question (slightly deeper):
agar kisi ne aapko us waqt chhod diya jab aapko uski sabse zyada zarurat thi…toh aap kya karengi agar wo wapas aana chahe?"

taz (mooh bana kar):

"simple hai… cha muda 

Or taz or arjun hanste hain .... 

asad:
"agar aap kisi ko ek letter likh sakti…
toh kis topic par hota? aur kya kehti us letter me?"

taz (control me nahi):
"topic: ‘tere jaise ka kya karein?’
aur andar likha hota — ‘return to sender’.
arjun bas mooh chhupake halke se hansa, lekin aankhon me phir bhi thoda pain.
uski aankhen ammu ke expressions pe fix hoti hain

ammu kuch der sochti hai… then softly bolti hai:
ammu (far se sunai deta hai):
"shayad… main likhti
‘mujhe maaf karna… par main ab waisi nahi rahi.’"

ek second ke liye dono chup ho jaate hain.
fir taz thoda halki tone me kehta hai:

taz (zara softly):
"aur bhai… tujhe kya lagta hai… yeh line tere liye thi?"

taz fir ek final line bolta hai – cheeky but poison-coated:
taz:
"bhai, iski baatein sun ke lag raha hai…
yeh ladka ghazal nahi, mausam hai…
aata bhi dheere se hai… aur tabahi bhi calmly machata hai."

arjun (confidently):
"aur main… baarish hoon taz.
jiska sabko intezaar hota hai,
par jab aata hoon toh sab bheeg jaate hain…
aur phir chhat dhundhte hain."

asad ammu ki taraf thoda hopeful nazar se dekhta hai.
ammu chhup hoti hai, uski aankhen aasman se thoda neeche…
wo bas khud me ghuli hoti hai — conversation ne usse andar tak chhed diya hota hai.
tabhi… chhat ke darwaze se ek familiar voice sunayi deti hai:

shanu (friendly tone, halki hansi ke saath):
“madam… ho gayi aapki deep baatein? ya abhi aur layers kholni baaki hain?”
ammu palat ke dekhti hai — shanu waha khadi hai, aankhon me thoda curiosity, thoda teasing.
asad turant seedha ho jaata hai, halki smile ke saath bas sir hila deta hai.

shanu (asad ki taraf dekhte hue):
“accha laga aapse milke… aapki poetry ke baad abhi tak sab bechain the,
ab lagta hai… aapki baaton ne unhe shaant kar diya hoga.”

asad bas ek calm nod deta hai — polite, controlled.
shanu uske expression ko read karne ki koshish karti hai, lekin kuch keh nahi paati.

fir wo ammu ke shoulder ko halka sa chhoo ke kehti hai:
shanu:
“chalo… neeche sab wait kar rahe hain.”
ammu ek baar asad ki taraf dekhti hai — na smile, na disappointment —
bas ek silent acknowledgement.
fir wo shanu ke sath chhat ke stairs ki taraf badhti hai.

Asad ke niche ki taraf walk karte huye Taz ek aakhiri banter jor se uchhal kar marta hai,
Taz:
Abe dallleee, jhootallleeee yaha se nikalllleeee

Or fir arjun or Taz dono daud kar imtiyaz ki chhat se utar kar wapas azhar ke ghar aa Jate hai

ammu aur shanu neeche aate hain… sabki nazar unpe thodi der ko jaati hai,
fir casual hansi-mazaak chalu ho jaata hai.
camera ammu ke chehre pe zoom karta hai —
expression soft hai, par andar ka storm ab bhi chal raha hota hai.
tabhi — dusre darwaze se quietly arjun aur taz bhi entry lete hain.
taz apni scarf ko tight karta hai, arjun baal thoda sa sudharta hai jaise kuch hua hi nahi.
dono bina kisi se aankh milaye seedha ek corner me jaake baith jaate hain.

sab log thoda-thoda casual ho chuke hain,baaton ka volume normal hai, lekin andar hi andar sab yeh samajhne ki koshish kar rahe hain —
ammu ka expression kya keh raha hai?
ammu ek side quietly baithi hoti hai — aankhon me ek soch.
uske paas shanu aake silently baith jaati hai.
ek second dono ke beech silence…

fir shanu, halka sa jhuk ke, dheere se puchti hai:
shanu (low whisper, aankhon me direct curiosity):
“upar kya baat hui thi ammu...?
sab normal tha na? ya… kuch zyada?”

ammu bas ek halki smile deti hai — lekin wo smile me bhi ek thakan chhupi hoti hai.

ammu (low voice):
“pucha usne ki bhool paayi ho kya…
aur maine… kuch nahi kaha.”

shanu halki si breath in karti hai, kuch seconds tak chup rahti hai.
fir apna haath ammu ke haath pe rakh ke softly bolti hai:
shanu:
“tum bolti nahi ho…
isliye sab samajh lete hain.”
ammu uski taraf dekhti hai — ek pal ke liye aankhon me pani tha,
lekin turant usne nazar chura li.

cut to: kitchen doorway – madhu ka clear voice
madhu (thoda loud, sabki taraf dekhte hue):
“bas ab sab log baith jao… khana laga diya hai.
baatein toh ab zindagi bhar chalti rahengi,
lekin biryani garam hai — pehle yeh sambhaal lo!”

husna bhi smile kar ke kehti hai:

“haan haan, pehle khana… baaki mohabbat baad me!”

dining area me sab plates le kar lag jaate hain —
aur kahin ek corner me arjun abhi bhi blank expression me glass me paani ghoomata hai.
uski aankhen ek pal ko ammu tak jati hain,
fir wo thoda aur peechhe khisak jaata hai.

dining area do hisso me divide hai.
ek taraf gents — pratap, azhar, asad, taz, kuch aur elders.
doosri taraf ladies — husna, madhu, naushin, sarfaraz, aur beech me baithi ammu.
shanu aur asma plate leke idhar udhar ghoom rahi hoti hain,
gentlemen ko rotiyan, salad, biryani serve karte hue.

naushin, ammu ke baju me baithi hoti hai.
uski nazar ammu ke haathon par padti hai — simple mehndi,
aur ek hath me pehni hui chhoti si red bangle.
naushin (sweet tone me):
“arre wah Amreen
yeh bangles toh badi pyaari lag rahi hain…
kya kisi khaas ne di?”

ammu thoda confuse si smile deti hai,
husna seedha seedha bolti hai (thoda taunting me):
“ab khaas nahi toh kaun dega…
rishta lekar aaye hain toh kuch toh khaas hoga hi.”

madhu quickly tone change karti hai, smile me:
“haye haan haan, waise bhi ammu pe toh har rang suit karta hai…
par yeh laal... kuch zyada hi.”

sarfaraz (cute si muskaan ke saath, husna ke baju me baithi):
“ammu ka smile hi sabse pretty accessory hai.”
ammu awkward si smile kar deti hai,
uski nazar neeche chali jaati hai,
aur ek pal ko uska chehra blank ho jaata hai


cut to: gents corner
azhar thoda biryani ka mors chewb karte hue zaheer ki taraf dekhta hai.
phir casual tone me bolta hai:
azhar:
“arre… sab log toh lag gaye hain plate pe…
ja zara arjun ko bula la… kya jaane kidhar chhupa baitha hai.”
zaheer ke haathon ka motion rukta hai.
ek second ke liye wo apne baap ki taraf dekhta hai,
aankhon me halki jhalak — kyun mujhe?
lekin kuch kehta nahi.
bas haan mein sir hilata hai, lekin uske expressions sikud jaate hain.

cut to: arjun – ek kone me khamoshi se glass me paani ghoomata hua
zaheer waha aata hai.
koi “please” ya “bhai” wala tone nahi.
bilkul straight, cold, almost dismissive.
zaheer:
“khana lag gaya hai. aa ja.”

arjun uski taraf dekhta hai directly.
ek second tak dono aankhon me aankhon daalte hain.
ek sooraj ek chattan ko ghoor raha hota hai.
na shabd badalte hain, na bhaav.
sirf ek awkward, silent clash.
fir arjun bina kuch kahe uthta hai.
aur seedha dining side chalta hai, taz ke paas baith jaata hai.

taz thali me raita daal raha hota hai — arjun ke baithte hi line maar deta hai:
taz (andar se enjoy karta hua):
“lo bhai… toh sher bhi shikaar pe aa gaya.
kya raita faila hai... kya pulao paka hai...
aur kya zaheer ki aankhon me mirchi daali hai!”

camera do alag zones me jata hai —
ammu ladies ke beech me muskara rahi hai, lekin aankhen bhari hain.
arjun gents ke side baitha hai, lekin plate me biryani ki jagah soch chaba raha hai.

camera focus karta hai asad par —
ek haath se dupatta jaisa napkin apne gale me baandh chuka hai,
doosre haath me spoon leke aise baitha hai jaise shaadi ke buffet me nahi,
'mughal-e-azam' ki daawat me hissa le raha ho.
asad apne saamne ki plate me ekdum saaf symmetry me chizein set karta hai —
biryani, raita, salad, pickle — sab ko ek aesthetic pattern me sajata hai,

cut to: corner – arjun & taz, dono kneel posture me thoda chipke hue
taz (whispering, aankhon me chamak):
“bhai... Pahle baar dekh raha hu ki tinda khud sabji kha raha hai

arjun (holding laughter):
“arre… yeh plate hai ya mandala art ban raha hai?
mirchi ka ek kona bhi hil gaya toh shakun bigad jayega!”

asad ek dum slow motion me raita ka ek chammach uthaata hai,
aur usse dekhta hai jaise usme uska reflection dikh gaya ho —
phir us chammach ko biryani ke upar rakhta hai,
jaise chef’s kiss moment ho.

taz:
“dekha? raita nahi daala… biryani ko raita ka dupatta odha diya!
banda shaadi nahi kar raha…
biryani ki bidaai kar raha hai!”

ek second ke liye asad ke gale me kuch atak jata hai —
wo paani ke liye hilta hai, lekin ekdum style me,
aur turant glass utha ke aise chhota sa toast karta hai sabzi ke saamne…
phir sip.

arjun:
“bhai iska gala atka nahi…
yeh drama ka next act tha!”
Actor saala 

asad ab ek gulab jamun ko spoon se tod raha hota hai,
aise jaise koi priceless sculpture toot raha ho…
aur taz & arjun — corner me haath se mooh dabaaye hassi chhupa rahe hote hain.


azhar ka ghar – drawing room – 6:15 PM – evening light filtering in
ladke wale ab uthne hi waale hote hain.
asad ke papa saeed sayed apne shirt ko theek karte hue bolte hain:
Saeed:
“toh hum chalte hain...
aap sab ache log hain, mahmaan-nawazi ka shukriya.
aap sab ache se baith kar faisla kar lijiye…
hum intezaar karenge phone ka.”
husna, naushin, sarfaraz sab log uth kar unka saath dete hain.
sab log ab entry wale gate ki taraf badhne lagte hain.
madhu plates le rahi hoti hai, shanu aankhon se ammu ko dekh rahi hoti hai.

aur ammu… ek jagah frozen si, bas khadi hoti hai.
phir ammu halki si thap thap ke saath aage badhti hai aur sabke saamne khud ko hold kar ke bolti hai, lekin awaaz theek-thaak bold hoti hai:
ammu (firm tone, saaf aankhon se):
“main...
main chahti hoon ki meri zindagi ka faisla sirf ek mil baithak se na ho.”
sab log ruk jaate hain.

aisa lagta hai jaise kisi ne remote se pause button daba diya ho.
arjun ka chehra pehli baar ek dum se blank ho jaata hai.
taz ki spoon hawa me hi atki hoti hai.
azhar seedha ammu ko dekhta hai.

ammu (phir soft, lekin clear):
“main baba se yeh kehna chahti hoon…
ki main chahti hoon hum thoda aur samay lein.
thoda aur samajh lein ek doosre ko.
abhi... main tayyar nahi hoon.”
uski aankhon me koi ghabrahat nahi
lekin uski nazar sidha azhar pe.
aur... arjun ki aankhon me dard  lekin wo bas dekhta reh jaata hai, kuch kehta nahi.

phir husna aage badhti hai — aur ek second me scene ka mood thoda sambhaal leti hai:
husna (cheerfully):
“haaye, sahi to keh rahi hai meri bachi.
main toh waise bhi kehne wali thi — abhi waqt hai, samajhne ka haq hai dono ko.
waise bhi asad beta do din baad jaipur phir aayega…

phir husna aankhon me chamak laake bolti hai:
“friday ko yeh aayega or saturday-sunday ka toh poora waqt hoga na,ammu aur asad ek do chhoti meeting kar lenge... samajh jaayenge ek doosre ko aur.”

asad ke abba agree karte hain.
lekin azhar turant apni kursi se hilte hain aur bolte hain —
azhar:
“nahi nahi... hotel me kyun?
yeh ladka apna hi hai.
humare yahin rukega zaheer ke kamre me.
bacha hai ghar ka, yahi rahe.”

zaheer ek second ke liye asad ko dekhta hai, phir aankhen phir leta hai.
uski aankhon me clearly sab kuch likha hota hai — ‘mazaak ho raha hai kya?’
shanu chhupke se ammu ke paas aake khadi ho jaati hai,
aur arjun… woh slowly pichhe chala jaata hai,
dining table ke corner tak.
uska chehra… almost poker face.
lekin aankhon me wo ek halki si dard ki lehar chhupaye baitha hai.

cut to: taz (slowly arjun ke paas aake whisper karta hai):
“bhai… ab to banda room tak bhi shift ho gaya.
apni mohabbat check-in kar gayi…
aur hum waiter bane khaali plate leke ghoom rahe hain.”
arjun bas ek faint smirk deta hai — lekin aankhon me us waqt ek baar bhi ammu ka chehra nahi chhuta.

[b]azhar ka ghar – shaam 6:45 PM ke baad
[/b]
mehmaan ja chuke hain.
gate band ho chuka hai.
drawing room ka halke rangon ka sajawat ab thoda thaka thaka lag raha hai.
azhar, zaheer, asma sab apne rooms me jaa chuke hain.
madhu aur pratap ne pehle hi azhar se ijazat le li thi aur ghar nikal chuke hain.
shanu bhi ammu se keh chuki hai ki “main bas change karke aayi”.


dining space – light dim, mahaul halka-sa silent
ab sirf do log bache hain...
ammu ek plate uthakar sink ki taraf le ja rahi hoti hai.
arjun ek kone me khada, thoda sa restlessness ke saath,
jaise kuch kehne ka chance dhoond raha ho.
lekin kuch bhi kehne ki himmat nahi ho rahi.

ammu arjun ki taraf dekhe bina apne room ke direction me chal padti hai.
uske steps halki hote hain lekin uski spine seedhi 
koi bhi attention ya tasalli lene ka iraada nahi hota usme.
uske chehre par ek neutral layer hai… na naraz, na soft.

arjun uski taraf dekhta hai… kuch seconds tak.
lekin ammu, bina ek baar bhi nazar uthaaye,
apne kamre me chali jaati hai.
kamra bandh hota hai – arjun blink bhi nahi karta.
wo ab bhi wahi khada hota hai.

arjun ghar laut raha hota hai – gali se nikalte hue
uske kadam dheere hain.
har pair uthta hai jaise usme wazan ho.uski aankhon me wo sawaal hai jo usne kisi se poocha nahi…
aur jawab hai jo usse kisi ne diya nahi



pratap ka ghar – entry

arjun darwaza kholta hai, andar aata hai…
ghar khamosh hota hai.
na madhu, na pratap.
sab apne rooms me hain.
wo sirf entry area me khada hota hai.
ek pal ke liye andar ke direction me dekhta hai…
phir bina kuch bole, sidha apne kamre me chala jaata hai.


pratap ka ghar – arjun ka room – raat ke 9:20 baje

ghar ke har kone me khamoshi hai.
madhu apne room me light off kar chuki hoti hai. pratap ka bhi door band.

arjun ka kamra… thoda andhera, bas ek corner lamp on hai —
warm yellow light me arjun ka chehra adha roshan, adha chhaya me dooba hua.

arjun apni kursi pe baitha hota hai, pair ek taraf se latka ke…
uske haath me ek purani matchbox, jise wo ghumata jaa raha hota hai.
uska phone bed pe pada hota hai, screen lock par ammu ka naam abhi bhi last message me blink kar raha hota hai

voiceover style – arjun ke andar ke sawaal – dhimi awaaz me

arjun (andar hi andar):

"main hi to tha... jo har waqt uske saath tha.
uske hasne ke wajah, uske chhup rehne ka sabab bhi main hi to tha."

(wo matchbox band karta hai. apne kandhe se jhukta hai)

phir jab wo thodi si badli, thodi si samajhdar hui...
to main usse door kyu ho gaya?"

(thoda pause. uski aankhon me guilt clearly dikh raha hota hai)

kyu mujhe laga ki usne kuch badal diya hai?
ya shayad... main hi woh sab dekh nahi paaya jo uske andar chal raha tha."

"main sirf khud pe busy tha… uski khamoshi pe nahi."

arjun kursi se uthta hai —
kamar theek karta hai, jaise koi weight ho jo ab seene pe chadh gaya ho.
phir woh chhatt ki taraf chala jaata hai…



cut to: pratap ke ghar ki chhatt – raat 9:30 PM

Arjun ek gray gym waist or black joggers me hota hai,uske gale me abhi bhi ek religious locket latak raha hota hai jo dikhai de raha hai,uske baal aaj thode rukhe lag rahe hai shayd usne aaj comb nahi kiya ya fir use mouka hi na mila ho.
raat thodi thandi hai. aasman me taaron ka jhukav.
neeche se mohalle ke kuch dim lights dikh rahi hoti hain.
ek kachchi si hawa chalti hai.
arjun chhatt ke konne tak jaata hai, haath railing pe rakhta hai.
door ammu ke ghar ki chhat dikhti hai — andhera, lekin usi andhere me wo uski tasveer dhoond raha hota hai.

arjun (andar se, slow thought):

"aaj agar main usse us waqt ek baar roka hota...
to kya wo pal aisa hi guzarta?"

"kyu main sirf tamasha dekhta raha jab wo kisi aur ke saath baith kar apne faisle kar rahi thi?"

"uski aankhon me jitna sa bharosa tha...
kya wo main tha? ya ab nahi hoon?"


[b]uska gala thoda bhari ho jaata hai. aankhon me ek halka sa moisture.
wo kuch der khamoshi me waha khada rehta hai — bina kisi reaction ke.
sirf… regret. pura, gehra regret.[/b]

phir dheere se uske phone ki screen light jalti hai.
ek naya message nahi — sirf wo last message, jo ammu ne bheja tha:
"arjun, mujhe tumse kuch zaruri baat karni hai. jaldi ghar aa jao."

arjun us message ko dekhta rehta hai…
aur finally uska angutha lock button dabata hai. screen black.

last line (andar hi andar):

"shayad main us waqt wapas laut sakta tha…
lekin ab waqt mujhe wapas laut kar dega ya nahi… pata nahi.


azhar ka ghar – night, 9:50 PM

andar ki lights ab soft ho chuki hain.
sab dinner ke baad apne-apne rooms me relax mode me ja chuke hain.
azhar so raha hota hai, madhu aur pratap apne ghar wapas ja chuke hain.

zaheer drawing room ke ek konne me sofa par baitha hota hai —
ek book khuli hoti hai uske haath me, lekin aankhen us par tikki nahi hoti.
uska dimaag abhi bhi pure din ke mahool me uljha hua hota hai.
tabhi peechhe se ammu aati hai —
uske haath me ek thali hoti hai jisme doodh aur thoda sa leftover mithai hoti hai.
lekin expression pe ek controlled smile… us waali jo sirf apne close insaan ke liye lagayi jaati hai.

ammu (softly, casual tone me):
"abhi tak padhaayi ho rahi hai ya book se aankh-micholi?"

zaheer book band karta hai, ek thakaa-thakaa smile deta hai:
"padhaayi kaha… bas dimaag ka load kam karne ki acting chal rahi hai."

ammu uske paas sofa ke arm pe baith jaati hai, uski taraf doodh ki thali badha ke:
"le bhai, acting se pehle real energy le le."

zaheer thoda protest karta hai:
"abey tu bhi na, raat ke iss time doodh pila rahi hai... jaise exam dene jaa raha hoon."

ammu (laugh ke saath):
"exam hi to tha... pura din!"

thoda pause. dono ke beech halka silence aata hai, lekin wo uncomfortable nahi hota.
usme ek mutual understanding hoti hai.

zaheer uski taraf dekhta hai, thoda hesitant:
"tu theek hai na?"

ammu ek pal ke liye uski aankhon me dekhti hai —
phir wo smile karti hai, lekin us smile me wo khud ka dil chhupa leti hai

ammu (halke andaaz me):
"main to full set hoon...
ab soch rahi hoon ki do din me Asad ke saath Jaipur me Hawa Mahal ghoom aaun."

(aankh maar ke)
"aur waise bhi... unki shayari to sun ke lagta hai, hawa bhi unki baaton pe udti hogi."

zaheer hansi chhupa nahi paata:
"abe chhoti... tujhe lagta hai main teri nautanki samajhta nahi?"

ammu shoulders ucha deti hai, jese kehna ho — 'mujhe kya!'

phir ek pal ke liye dono chup ho jaate hain.
zaheer ammu ke haath se thali leke ek sip doodh ka leta hai.
uski aankhon me abhi bhi doubt hai, lekin wo uske mood ko respect karta hai.

zaheer (softly):
"acha kiya tune…
sab ke samne thoda waqt maang ke.
jo bhi faisla le, sirf apne liye lena.
baba ke liye nahi, mere liye nahi… kisi ke liye nahi.
sirf khud ke liye."

ammu (halke se, aankhen uske chehre pe):
"tere jaise bhai ke hote kisi ladki ko superwoman banne ki zarurat hi nahi."

zaheer uske head pe thoda gentle sa tap deta hai, pyaar se.


pratap ka ghar – chhat – raat 11:45 PM

arjun railing ke paas khada hota hai
ek haath se railing pakde hue, dusre haath me phone jise wo lagataar unlock karke blank screen dekh raha hota hai.
aankhon ke neeche thoda thakaan, aur chehre pe wo unsaid guilt.peeche se halki si chappal ki awaaz aati hai.shanu aati hai, ek shawl apne kandhe pe liye hue.chup-chaap arjun ke paas aa kar usi railing pe thoda door khadi ho jaati hai.

shanu (soft tone me, hawa me bolti jaise):
"tumhare andar ka volcano kab phatega arjun?"

arjun (bina uski taraf dekhe):
"pata nahi.
shayad us din jab yeh sab kuch wapas kar paun… jo maine khoya nahi, bas sambhala nahi."

[b][b]thoda pause ke baad vo uske paas aati hai.
[/b][/b]
shanu (gently):
"mujhe pata hai tu confuse hai.
gussa bhi hai, aur thoda toot bhi gaya hai.
par mujhe pura bharosa hai tujh pe."

arjun ke aankhon me ek halki si chamak aati hai, jaise koi halka sa bhar nikal gaya ho.
wo ab shanu ki taraf dekhta hai, first time properly.

arjun (narmi se):
"aur ammu pe?"

shanu (smile ke saath):
"amm... aur ammu pe toh bina shabd ke bharosa hai.
wo kuch bhi decide kare, kisi wajah se kare,
main jaanti hoon ki uska dil jahan hai… tu wahan se door nahi."

arjun bas use dekhta hai, aankhen bhar aayi hoti hain lekin wo ro nahi raha.
bas wo weight, jo dil pe tha, halka ho gaya hai.

fir wo dheere se shanu ke paas jaata hai —
ek protective side hug deta hai.
apni behen ko apne paas khinch leta hai.

arjun (dheere se, almost whisper):
"tu na hoti to main kab ka gir gaya hota."

shanu (mild laugh):
"to tu gir jaata, main utha leti.
lekin ab zyada emo mat ho, kal kaam bhi hi

arjun uske head par ek soft, brotherly kiss karta hai.
shanu bhi uske kandhe se lag ke kuch second waisi hi rehti hai.

dono chup — lekin complete.



sky shot – chhat ke upar taaron bhara aasman.
[b]neeche do siblings, ek dusre ke sahare…[/b]